During his weekly availability Monday, Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti said he is “optimistic” about the status of junior running back Turbo Richard and junior linebacker Rolijah Hardy.
Richard and Hardy both left the Hoosiers’ victory against Northwestern last Friday with injuries. But the two have a chance to play against Rutgers on Saturday.
Richard was taken down along the sideline after a 2-yard rush in the second quarter. Postgame, Cignetti said the “late” hit was a hip-drop tackle, which is a penalized technique in the NFL but legal at the collegiate level.
Richard hobbled to the locker room with assistance from athletic trainers and did not return to the game. But it appears he escaped with a short-term injury.
Prior to his departure, Richard handled nine carries for 68 rushing yards. In his absence, redshirt senior running back Lee Beebe Jr. controlled the backfield. Beebe stepped up with a career-best performance, rushing for 203 yards and a touchdown.
Hardy exited in the fourth quarter against Northwestern after tackling senior quarterback Aidan Chiles. But he was able to walk off the field and to Indiana’s locker room under his own power.
The linebacker has been a pivotal force on the Hoosiers’ defense through four games, tying for a team-leading 29 tackles. Hardy also ranks third on the team with three tackles for loss and secured a pick-six against Howard University on Sept. 12.
But like Richard, it appears Hardy will not miss extended time.
“We got really good news on Turbo (Richard),” Cignetti said. “I think he’ll be day-to-day and I’m optimistic he can play Saturday, as well as Rolijah Hardy.”
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
